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Character is an intensely personal trait that requires constant development, but it can build trust and effectiveness among teams over time, writes Lorne Rubis, president and CEO of Ryzex. Instill accountability, respect and abundance in your team through recognition, both at the workplace and in forward-facing ways such as company blogs, Rubis advises.

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When Josh Voorhees learned he would be running in the Minnesota Twins' in-game mascot race, he made sure to research his competition and find the best costume for running. He dashed around the field dressed as Wanda the Walleye, defeating Louie the Loon, Babe the Blue Ox and other characters.

Companies need a broad "talent funnel" to ensure they're hiring the best workers around, writes Dan McCarthy. That means using advertising and personal contacts to reach out to top talent, even before there's a vacancy. "The time to start recruiting is before there’s an opening," McCarthy writes.

Organizations should be structured in ways that allow them to respond quickly and effectively to new and unforeseen circumstances, writes Alan S. Gutterman. That means working to anticipate contingencies and designing your organizational structure with your goals and your customers' needs in mind.

Employees are taking more control over their benefits, but they aren't always making smart decisions, says Dave Rahill, president of health and benefits at Mercer, in this Big Think video. That means the onus is on employers to give their workers the tools they need to make the right calls. "In our view, there's a lot of education that has to take place," Rahill says.

For innovation to take hold at your company, you have to encourage risk-taking -- and that means rewarding workers when they make mistakes, writes Paul Schoemaker. Some companies give trophies to managers who admit to the "best" errors, fostering a culture that celebrates and discusses mistakes, to learn from them.